Flower Hill
Nature Preserve

Explore Flower Hill’s rare rhododendron slopes.

Discover Rare Appalachian Flora in Johnston County at Flower Hill 

Flower Hill in Johnston County packs a mighty floral punch within its 10 acres. The first part of the preserve’s half-mile trail takes you through a Piedmont upland oak-hickory forest with scattered chestnut oak and remnant longleaf pine. As the trail climbs to slopes overlooking Moccasin Creek, you emerge into a little slice of the mountains where a dense stand of Catawba rhododendron puts on an incredible display every April.  

The preserve’s location on the fall line, the dividing line between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, contributes to its rich floral life that includes spring-blooming wildflowers like trout lily, jack-in-the pulpit, and Catesby’s trillium.   

Once only known to locals as a favorite picnic spot, Flower Hill gained national attention in the 1930s when celebrated North Carolina naturalist B.W. Wells visited the preserve and was delighted to find the Catawba rhododendron, along with other plants more typical of the southern Appalachian Mountains, like galax and trailing arbutus. Wells attributed this unusual plant life to the site’s north-facing slopes and the underlying rock formation. When Johnston County officials began promoting the site and its plant life, thousands of people descended upon the property every spring for several years. 

After the late 1930s, interest in the site waned until 1988, when a group of concerned Johnston County residents launched a campaign to save Flower Hill. In 1989, Triangle Land Conservancy purchased the 10-acre preserve.  

Flower Hill may not provide an intense cardio workout, but if your heart races at the sight of lovely wildflowers, and you are craving a Blue Ridge Mountain hike without the drive west, this preserve is your kind of place. 

Preserve Guidelines & What to Expect

All TLC preserves are open dawn to dusk.

All TLC preserves have designated parking lots. Please park and access the preserves only through these entrances. Some preserves, like Brumley Nature Preserve, have several parking access points. Williamson Preserve (specifically, the Bootleggers Loop) can be accessed from the Neuse River Greenway.

  • Mountain biking is available at Williamson Preserve in Wake County and Brumley South Preserve in Orange County. You can check the trail status at any time by visiting our trail status page. Please respect all trail closures, which help us maintain the trails and the fragile habitats near them.
  • Please note, all riders must wear helmets. E-bikes are not permitted.
  • Please observe good trail-sharing etiquette, including giving audible warnings and slowing down to pass hikers and other riders.

Yes! Dogs are welcome at all TLC preserves but they must be leashed at all times on a 6-foot physical leash. This is critical for the safety of other visitors, wildlife, and farm animals.

All pet waste must be bagged and disposed of off the premises to protect water quality and habitats.

Cell phone service varies depending on your carrier and so is not guaranteed at any of the preserves. Cell coverage is generally poor at the southern half of Williamson Preserve near the Neuse River Greenway Trail, as well as most of Horton Grove and White Pines. Please plan accordingly.

  • On shared hiking and mountain biking trails, please walk on the right side.
  • Mountain bikers should give an audible warning and slow down to pass hikers or other riders.
  • All dogs must be leashed and any waste bagged and disposed of off the premises.
  • Please stay on the marked trail in order to help us protect delicate plant and wildlife habitats.

Port-A-Johns are available at the Brumley South New Hope Church Road parking lot and at the Williamson Parking lot. No other preserves have restroom access or potable water.

  • Littering
  • Off-trail riding and hiking
  • Horseback riding
  • Racing on bikes
  • Electric bikes (e-bikes)
  • Smoking
  • Bringing or consuming alcohol
  • Collecting plants and wildlife
  • Hunting
  • Feeding wildlife or livestock
  • Approaching or handling livestock or farm equipment
  • Firearms
  • Swimming
  • Tents and/or camping
  • Drone use
  • Metal detecting
  • Commercial activity of any kind

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